As special counsel Robert Mueller builds his case, relatives of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn are among those pressing the president to use his unique legal power and ‘put these defendants out of their misery.’

European Parliament to seek more money for limos and security

The European Parliament will vote Thursday on whether to increase spending on security measures following the Paris and Brussels terror attacks, as well as on a €10 million fleet of limousines and chauffeurs for MEPs.

Leaders of the assembly are seeking a 2.6 percent increase on security and cybersecurity in the amended 2017 budget, to a total amount of €47.6 million. The extra amount will be spent on measures like “signing internal documents digitally,” according to a budget committee report approved this week by the assembly’s president, vice presidents and administrative committee — a group known as the Bureau. The increase was justified as an “extraordinary” security expense in the wake of the Brussels attacks.

MEPs are currently chauffeured by external agents, but the new plan would add €3.7 million annually to the existing €7 million transportation budget to set-up an in-house limousine service.

The Bureau voted unanimously in favor of it “due to the extreme security sensitivity of the chauffeur service,” according to the amendment. It also states that “the internalization should allow decent working conditions and pay for drivers and the use of greener and safer cars.”

The assembly’s entire revised €1.9 billion budget for 2017 will be put to a final vote Thursday at noon.

The European Parliament’s secretary general, Klaus Welle, made the case to the Bureau members for the security investment and chauffeur service in an “off camera” discussion on Monday. Officials, who were not members of the Bureau, were asked to leave the room so that the topic would not be debated in the press, according to Parliament sources.

In addition, the Bureau members decided at the meeting that security outside of the Parliament buildings in Brussels would continue to be covered by Belgian authorities. They also asked that Welle assess existing insurance contracts for members and staff “in light of terroristic threats.”

This article was updated to remove an incorrect reference to the sponsorship of an amendment to the budget.

Authors:

Related stories on these topics:

Alan

Nothing to do with ‘security’, sadly just another example of self-aggrandisement by a bunch of non-entities with their snouts in the trough. Many people will tell you that security is about varying travel routes, times and methods, maintaining anonymity, not drawing attention to yourself etc. Why do the exact opposite? What next- dedicated limo lanes, flashing blue lights, police (EU police of course) motor-cycle outriders ????? Stick with anonymity and what could be more anonymous than an MEP!